Where would you like to sign in?

Will Winter Ever End? The Weather Network Delivers Its Spring Outlook

Slow Start to Spring Expected Across Most of Canada

OAKVILLE, ON--(Marketwired - March 04, 2014) - Following a harsh winter, the question on the minds of many Canadians is: will spring ever arrive? To answer the question, The Weather Network's meteorologists have issued this year's Spring Outlook, forecasting the months of March, April and May. With parts of Canada still in the midst of their coldest winter in 20 years, Canadians east of the Rocky Mountains should expect winter to hang on and a sluggish start to spring with temperatures through March and early April on the cold side.

Spring is typically a volatile season with a variety of weather conditions and this year will be no different. The swings in temperature and precipitation that most Canadians have experienced through winter are expected to carry into the spring months. Above normal precipitation and active weather patterns are expected for Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec.

"There's no doubt Canadians are looking for signs of relief from the cold, wintry conditions and rest assured, you can't hold back spring," said Chris Scott, Chief Meteorologist. "While the vice-like grip of arctic air will give much of the country a lingering winter headache to start March, the guarantee of rapidly lengthening days and a higher sun angle mean the first tastes of warmer weather are only a few weeks away."

Cold, stormy start to spring

March has come in like a polar bear across most of the country, with frigid temperatures from the B.C. Interior all the way to Newfoundland. There is some relief in sight for the western Prairies as milder Pacific air is poised to move east of the Rockies next week bringing a reprieve from the bitter arctic air. However, temperatures across Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada are expected to average well below normal for the 2nd week of March.

The stormiest weather will be found along the west coast, with a steady parade of systems giving wet weather to the B.C. south coast along with high elevation and interior snow. Meanwhile, residents of eastern Canada will need to keep a close eye on the forecast for more snow as an active storm track across the U.S. has the potential to brew a couple winter storms over the next two weeks.

The Weather Network's Spring 2014 Outlook

Region

Temperature Outlook

Precipitation Outlook

British Columbia

Near normal.

Below normal forecast for Haida Gwaii and portions of the North Coast. Above normal precipitation in the southeastern interior.

Alberta

Below normal in the far northeast. Near normal elsewhere.

Above normal in the Rockies and adjacent foothills. Near normal precipitation elsewhere.

Saskatchewan

Below normal in the north and east-central regions. Near normal elsewhere.

Near normal.

Manitoba

Generally below normal but near normal by the Hudson Bay coast and extreme southwest.

Near normal.

Ontario

Below normal across the north, except for portions of the Hudson Bay Lowlands where near normal temperatures are forecast. Near normal across the south and east.

Near normal.

Québec

Below normal in the far west of southern Quebec. Above normal temperatures in the far north. Near normal elsewhere.

Above normal precipitation in the Gaspésie, Anticosti and adjacent far east; as well as far northern sections. Near normal elsewhere.

The Maritimes and Newfoundland

Near normal.

Above normal in New Brunswick and most of P.E.I as well as southeastern Labrador and most of the Great Northern Peninsula. Near normal precipitation elsewhere.

Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut

Near normal in the Yukon and western N.W.T. with below normal in eastern parts and adjacent Nunavut. Above normal in north-central Nunavut and extreme southern Baffin Island with near normal temperatures elsewhere.

Celebrating 25 years, Pelmorex Media Inc. is the parent company of The Weather Network, MétéoMédia, Travelers Network, Beat the Traffic and Eltiempo. The Weather Network and its French counterpart MétéoMédia are Canada's most popular weather and information services on TV, web and smartphone apps. Pelmorex owns and operates Eltiempo, Spain's leading multi-platform weather information provider. With strong roots in weather, we continue to leverage technology and science to help consumers plan their day by expanding the Pelmorex family to include Beat the Traffic, a leading multi-platform brand that finds the fastest route from point A to point B. Pelmorex also operates Canada's National Alerting Aggregation and Dissemination System (NAADS) which aggregates and distributes emergency alerts issued by authorized government agencies. Pelmorex has been named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers as well as Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for seven consecutive years.